The Democratic National Party Chair Ken Martin reaffirmed the Democratic Party’s commitment to working Americans in a newly released memo, ahead of his first trip as Chair of the Democratic National Committee. Martin’s trip included a roundtable discussion in Pittsburgh with the United Steelworkers, where he highlighted the party’s pro-labor stance and criticized former President Donald Trump’s anti-worker policies.

In the memo, Martin warned of the Trump administration’s attacks on workers’ rights, arguing that Trump and his billionaire backers have prioritized their wealth over the interests of hardworking Americans. He pointed to Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, which he claims makes it harder for workers to unionize by weakening the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and rolling back key worker protections that have been in place for six decades.

“In his first memo in the role, seen by the Guardian, Martin said, after the election, ‘for the first time in modern history, Americans now see the Republicans as the party of the working class and Democrats as the party of the elites.’”

Martin’s memo underscores what he sees as Trump’s harmful economic policies, including incentives for corporations to offshore jobs, judicial appointments that undermine collective bargaining, and vocal opposition to union efforts.

“During his first presidential term, Martin noted Trump created offshoring incentives for corporations, stacked federal courts with appointees who attacked collective bargaining rights and attacked union workers on several occasions, claiming striking workers should be fired and calling firefighter union leaders ‘dues-sucking people.’”

The memo also names several of Trump’s appointees with anti-worker records, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, all of whom Martin argues have actively worked against labor protections and union interests.

“‘Trump’s administration includes more billionaires than any other in American history, with a combined net worth that exceeds the GDP of 172 different countries. These appointees bring damning anti-union, anti-worker records that mirror Trump’s own,’ Martin added.”

Martin specifically called out tech billionaire Elon Musk, citing what he describes as Musk’s long history of suppressing worker rights at Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter (now X). He linked Musk’s actions to the broader framework of Project 2025, which he characterized as an existential threat to American workers.

“‘Unions protect workers regardless of identity, offer a pathway to the middle class, and raise standards for union and non-union members alike. Trump’s continued Project 2025 threats to unions are a direct attack on the wellbeing of working families everywhere,’ Martin concluded. ‘As I take over as chair of the DNC, union workers and labor leaders will be core to my decision-making. As Trump wages his war on working families, Democrats will fiercely answer the call to my favorite old union song, Which Side Are You On? I’ll tell you what: Democrats are on the side of the worker. We will show Americans every day that workers in fact do have more power than any billionaire.’”

Coverage from The Hill, The Washington Post, and The Washington Examiner echoed Martin’s emphasis on prioritizing labor rights as a core tenet of his leadership. In his memo, Martin positioned the Democratic Party as the true champion of the working class, vowing to rebuild trust among labor groups.

“‘I fundamentally believe that our party is grounded in the values, principles, and aspirations of the working class,’ Martin said in his Tuesday memo. ‘As Chair of the DNC, that belief will guide my decisions and approach in the years ahead. In contrast, in only his first month in office, it’s become abundantly clear Donald Trump doesn’t give a damn about the kitchen-table issues that matter to most Americans,’ he added.”

As Martin embarks on his first major trip as DNC Chair, he is focused on winning back labor support, particularly in battleground states like Pennsylvania. His memo underscores his intent to restore the Democratic Party’s reputation as the party of working Americans, a perception he acknowledges has been eroded in recent years.

“‘So, as the Trump agenda fails our nation’s working communities, we have to take seriously the job of repairing and restoring the perceptions of our party and our brand. It’s time to remind working Americans — and also show them every day — that the Democratic Party always has been and always will be the party of the worker,’ Martin said.”

As the 2026 midterms approach, Martin’s leadership will likely focus on reinforcing this message and countering Trump’s influence over blue-collar voters. The memo signals the DNC’s intent to prioritize economic and labor issues in its strategy moving forward, setting the stage for what is expected to be a contentious political battle over America’s workforce.